John Raven Fisher
(1863 - 1909)
of
St Bees, Cumbria in England
and
Victoria, Australia
by Robyn Fisher
John Raven Fisher was born at Sandwith, Cumberland England, on 13 April 1863 and was christened on 10 May 1863 at the St. Bees Church at St. Bees.
Aged 23, John arrived in Melbourne in April 1879 aboard the “Northumberland” accompanied by his brother, David.
John married Mary McFarlane in St. Silas’ Church of England in South Melbourne on Tuesday 23 August 1887. The ceremony was conducted by by Rev. Samuel Chambers Kent and witnessed by Charles Nimrood? and Elizabeth Mayroud? Kent (?minister’s wife). Both were aged 24 and both resided at Port Melbourne. Mary McFarlane was born in 1863 in Inglewood in Victoria, the daughter of Dugald Duncan McFARLANE (1825-1881) and Hannah, or Anna, MADDEN / MADDERN (~1837-1883).
Together John and Mary had four children: Thomas (Thos) (1887), Lavinia Raven (Ciss) (1890), Mary (1891-1893), and William (Bill) (1894).
Sadly, their daughter Mary, or Dolly as she was known, died in 1893, aged 2 years. She was buried at Melbourne General Cemetery in Carlton.
John's occupation in a number of records as a joiner 1887, carpenter 1887, builder 1899, engineer, public works contractor, councillor City of South Melbourne c1903 and contractor at his death in 1909.
He prospered as a builder and newspaper reports show that he did quite a lot of country work on schools in the Bendigo district. This is how he probably met his future wife Mary McFarlane.
Over the years his residence is given as 15 Law Street South Melbourne (3 from Park Street) 1884, 12 Law Street South Melbourne 1886, 193 (now 219) Richardson Street South Melbourne 1887 (6th house north east of cnr Nimmo) 1889-1891, 150 and 152 (now 232) Richardson Street Middle Park (2nd house north of cnr Harold) 1892-1905, 196 (now 232) Richardson Street Middle Park 1906-1909, and “Colbinabbin” 118 Canterbury Road Middle Park 1909.
From Council Rate Notice (year starts October) there is no record of John Raven Fisher until 1889/90. In 1887/88 Richardson St (#6061) is vacant land, in 1888/89 Richardson (#6161) is still vacant land. The rate books in 1889/90 for Richardson Street (#6134) lists John Raven Fisher and again in 1890/91 (#6234). This means Sands and MacDougall Directories are about 2 years behind and that John Raven Fisher did not own the house at 193 Richardson Street.
John built and resided at 232 Richardson Street Middle Park for almost 20 years - due to renumbering this house number was variously 150, 152, and 196.
He also built “Colbinabbin” 118 Canterbury Road Middle Park, at the corner of McGregor Street.
Works with which he was involved included the state school from South Clunes being dismantled and re-erected at Korrumburra, as well as the additions to the Rutherglen Post Office. He also carried out the foundation plans of Flinders Street Station. Other successful tenders were also awarded by the Railway Department for painting at Chiltern 227 pounds, 16 shillings and 8 and a half pence, and Korongvale for 225 pounds 9 shillings.
In 1902 he became President of the Melbourne Master Builders Assocation. His name is on their honour board at 323 Albert Street East Melbourne. There is no photo of John within their archives.
He went to South Africa in 1903 with the possible intention of moving the family there permanently. Around that time, his sister Hannah Taylor and at least two of Hannah's daughters were married in Johannesburg South Africa, though all were to later settle in Melbourne.
Prior to his departure he attended several functions including a social at the South Melbourne Town Hall hosted by the Mayor Cr. Craine in his honour as a Councillor. At that function, it was noted that with him he carried a testimonial from the Public Works Department noting that he had carried out 94 contacts for the Public Works Department and dozens of others.
The members of the Melbourne Master Builders’ Association and Exchange tended to him as president of the Association, a Valedictory Dinner on 26 May 1903 at the Exchange Hall, Flinders Street. Also in attendance was the chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works, also the Inspector-General of Public Works, the president of the Royal Institute of Architects, and many of the leading engineers, surveyors and representatives of the leading wholesale business houses of Melbourne.
John sailed on the White Star Line ship “Medic” departed from Port Melbourne in 1903, an occasion witnessed by over a thousand friends of those who had managed to secure passages. The scene on the pier was said to be exceptionally interesting, and the cheers and greetings partook more of the nature of a reception than farewell to a body of sturdy colonists who are proceeding to another British possession to seek employment and invest ment of their savings.
A wire (presumably to the Master Builders’ Association) from the president, Mr. J. R. Fisher, from Albany, date of June 2nd, was read, stating, with best wishes that all was well, and that the boat would leave the next day.
The “Medic” was the inaugural Liverpool White Star Line ship to include Albany WA as a port of call. A Municipal Reception was held in the Lower Town Hall (Albany) hosted by the Mayor (Mr. J. W. Muir) in honour of the captain and crew on their occasion of their first visit to Albany on the ship’s way home. Cr. Fisher, of South Melbourne, and another passenger from the above ship spoke of the highest terms of treatment that they had received on board.
Telegrams were read from Messrs J. R. Fisher and J. L. Hawley intimating their arrival in South Africa. Presumably this was also to the Master Builders’ Association.
He returned to Melbourne in October 1903 on “Afric”.
He missed the Master Builder’s Association dinner in July and September but was back for the picnic in March 1904.
John was a member of Elsternwick Golf Club and also joined the Kingston Heath Golf Club in it's infancy. His golf clubs, with professional formerly at St Andrews Scotland and later at Kingston Health, was donated in 2004 by his great grandson Tom Fisher to Kingston Heath Golf Club - Elsternwick Golf Club for their archives.
More detailed information relating to the family can be found in a collection of newspaper cuttings.
He was awarded the contract for the Pykes Creek Reservoir, near Ballan in the middle of 1908. The Pykes Creek contract was worth 41,859 pounds, a considerable sum at that time. The construction employed some 170 men, and involved 25 drays, 20 earth scoops and 80 horses.
On Monday November 1909 John complained of being slightly unwell, and left by the 8.20am train from Ballan, where he was undertaking the construction of Pykes Creek Reservoir for his home in Middle Park. On leaving the train at Spencer’s Street, he was evidently stricken down, as at about eleven o’clock he was picked up in an unconscious condition by Constable Thomson, at the corner of King and Francis Streets in the city. He was taken by ambulance to Melbourne General Hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival. His death was noted to be of natural causes and no inquest was held. He died aged 46.
His eldest son Thomas Fisher completed the Pyke's Creek Reservoir construction.
John Raven Fisher's burial took place 2 days later on 3 November 1909 at Melbourne General Cemetery, Carlton. Before the Funeral left his late residence the burial service was read by Rev. Stanley Wells, the vicar of St. Anselm’s Church of England, Middle Park. There was a large attendance, including members of the local Masonic Lodge and members of the Middle Park Bowling and Recreational Club.
John Raven Fisher was originally buried in Church of England section plout U638 but was reburied in plot UU53 on 8 December 1910. The plots UU53 and UU54 were purchased in 1910 by his widow, Mary Fisher.
Mary Fisher, aged 54, passed away on Wednesday 10 April 1918 at her home at "Colbinabbin" 118 Canterbury Rd, Middle Park. She was buried two days later on 12 April 1918 at Melbourne General Cemetery in Carlton in the same plot as her husband, John and baby daughter, Mary.
Burial Transcription: Inscription on gravestone Melb. General
In Loving memory
of
John Raven Fisher
beloved Husband of
Mary FISHER
who died 1st November 1909
aged 46 years (***indescripherable)
united again
Also the above
Mary FISHER
who died 10th April 1919
aged 55 years
also
William FISHER
born 5 Aug 1894 died 23 Oct 1940
Late Aust. Flying Corp"
ad on side of
pillar
"Also their daughter
MARY
who died 29th July 1899
aged 2 years
- transcribed by Robyn Fisher 1991
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